Scott Williams’ return to form has come at the right time for his region and country, according to Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac. Williams was a major contributor to the Scarlets’ impressive 28-11 victory over Sale on Saturday night as the region shook off their poor Pro12 start to record an opening victory in the European Champions Cup.

Neil Warnock described Cardiff City as “a blood and guts” kind of a club but those qualities appear to be what he has injected rather than uncovered since becoming manager. Warnock’s first match in charge – Friday night’s 2-1 victory over Bristol City – lifted the Bluebirds out of the Championship relegation zone.

Osian Pryce’s hopes of taking the World Rally Championship’s most lucrative prize will go down to the wire in Spain on Sunday. The Machynlleth driver is embroiled in a battle with Finland’s Max Vatanen on the final round of the Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy at this week’s Salou-based Rally of Spain.

Chaz Davies reckons he is hitting a career high after blasting to a third World Superbikes win on the trot in Spain. The Knighton-born flier followed up his double at the last round with victory in the first race of the weekend in Jerez.

Bob Bradley has revealed he wants to improve fitness levels at Swansea City, but rejects suggestions he is an American drill sergeant. The new manager is preparing to take his team to Arsenal on Saturday for his first match in charge since taking over from Francesco Guidolin.

Gary Mills has been sacked as manager of Wrexham. His dismissal on Thursday afternoon means all four major Welsh football clubs have now got rid of the men who started the season in charge.

Cardiff City are entering a new era under manager Neil Warnock, who had already brought four new players to the club who were available as free agents. Junior Hoilett, Sol Bamaba, Marouane Chamakh and Kieran Richardson could all make their debuts against Bristol City on Friday night. But Josh Thomas believes there is also talent that could be promoted from the development squad and picks out three to look out for.

Andy Powell has revealed the true reason behind his retirement from rugby was the effects of depression. The 35-year-old announced his retirement earlier this week, citing a recurring knee injury, but believes he has taken a positive step by revealing the actual circumstances.

Neil Taylor is backing Bob Bradley to make a big impact at Swansea City as he eyes a return to the team. The left-back fell out of favour under former manager Francesco Guidolin starting just one Premier League game this season.

Former Cardiff City striker Michael Chopra believes the club can start to climb the Championship table under new manager Neil Warnock. Warnock has signed three previously unattached players – Marouane Chamakh, Sol Bamba and Junior Hoilett – ahead of his first match in charge at home to Bristol City on Friday.

Former Wales forward Andy Powell has announced his retirement at the age of 35 after failing to overcome a recent knee injury. Graham Thomas looks back at the high-wire ride of a career that took Powell from Newport to Wales, to the Lions, to Merthyr, but with plenty of twists and turns along the way. So, farewell Andy Powell and thanks for the memories of a career colourful enough to make many others look grey by comparison. For many, Powell will forever be remembered as the chauffeur under the stars in the M4 golf buggy ride of doom back in 2010 – an incident that cost him his place in the Wales team, a 15-month driving ban, and any hope of honorary life membership at the Vale of Glamorgan resort and hotel.

This month’s Dayinsure Wales Rally GB (27-30 October) will mark a very special milestone in the career of British rallying legend Jimmy McRae.

Chaz Davies knows he has nothing to lose as he bids to keep his World Superbikes title hopes alive in Spain this weekend. The Knighton-born flier has won three of the last four races and seven in all this season – his career best for a campaign.

Neil Warnock has made his first singing as Cardiff City manager by taking unwanted former QPR winger Junior Hoilett. Warnock could now dig deeper into the pool of unattached players by agreeing deals with striker Marouane Chamakh, centre-back Sol Bamba and defender Kieran Richardson.

Graham Westley is confident he can keep save Newport County from the drop back out of the football league. The ex-Stevenage, Peterborough and Preston manager was formally unveiled on Monday with the Exiles bottom of league two and without a win in 10 games.

The Ospreys hammered the Cardiff Blues 46-24 in the first of the Guinness Pro12 Welsh derby matches. But it is not only on the pitch where there is a marked difference between the two regions, argues Geraint Powell. The Pro12 derby match between the Ospreys and the Blues is so much more than a rugby match, not merely a clash of East v West but, a clash between entirely opposing regional rugby cultures and philosophies. The neutrals mostly drawn towards Ospreylia.

Kingsley Jones has insisted his Newport Gwent Dragons team are making progress, despite just one victory in their opening six matches in the Guinness Pro12. The Dragons go into the break for European rugby with little to suggest they will not be the worst of the four regions again this season.

Chris Coleman described Wales’ failure to beat Georgia as “a blip” but has conceded it changes the nature of their next World Cup qualifier at home to Serbia. The 1-1 draw with the Georgians on Sunday night has left Wales in third place in Group D – two points adrift of both the Serbia and the Republic of Ireland.

Danny Wilson has ripped into his Cardiff Blues players – and his own coaching – after their derby night hammering by the Ospreys. The Blues coach watched his team lose 46-24 at the Liberty Stadium on Friday night, a scoreline that deceivingly suggests the visitors were half as good as the hosts. They weren’t.

Bob Bradley has revealed he has already spoken to chairman Huw Jenkins about transfer targets at Swansea City. Bradley – the first American to manage in the Premier League – also insists he can keep the club in the Premier League, but believes new blood will enable him to achieve more than just survival.